US urges tough UN sanctions on Sudan after attack
January 9, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The U.S. pressed Wednesday for tougher sanctions against Sudan after condemning what it said was a blatant and “unacceptable” attack by Sudanese troops on U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur.
“The United States condemns the Jan. 7 attack by the Sudanese Armed Forces on United Nations peacekeepers who were traveling in a supply convoy in Darfur,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement. “The United States believes this incident demonstrates the need for a stronger arms embargo for Sudan and we will be working with our security council partners to that end.”
“This attack against peacekeepers in white vehicles clearly displaying U.N. markings is unacceptable,” McCormack said.
The attack, which the Sudanese blamed instead on rebel forces, “violates the demands of the Security Council and the government of Sudan’s public pledges to cooperate with the deployment of the peacekeeping mission,” McCormack added. “The United States believes this incident demonstrates the need for a stronger arms embargo for Sudan and we will be working with our Security Council partners to that end.”
Washington has been pushing for an extension of the existing U.N. arms embargo in Darfur to the whole of Sudan.
Sudan’s U.N. envoy Abdalmahmood Mohamad rejected the charges from both Washington and the U.N., instead blaming Chad-backed rebels.
“The armed forces have no relationship whatsoever” with Monday’s attack on the convoy, which was ferrying rations for troops of the joint U.N.-Africa peacekeeping force, or UNAMID, in west Darfur, Mohamad told reporters.
He specifically blamed rebels of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement, which he claimed was strongly supported by the Chad government.
McCormack meanwhile praised the dangerous work carried out by UNAMID.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sudanese driver who was badly injured in the attack,” his statement said.
“We applaud UNAMID’s dedication to bringing peace to Darfur in the face of this kind of violence, and call on troop contributing countries to remain steadfast in their commitment to full UNAMID deployment,” he said.
(AFP)